Submerged dike.



PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905.,

D. NEALE.

SUBMERGED DIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 18,1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUBMERGED DIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed April 18, 1905. Serial No. 256,315.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID NEALE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Submerged Dikes, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in the art of constructing submerged dikes; and it consists in the novel features herein shown, described, and claimed.

The object of my invention is to construct improved submerged dikes in the beds of fast-flowing rivers the waters of which carry much mud and sand.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view showing my invention in the course of construction upon a river-bank. Fig. 2 is a de tail view and perspective showing one of the mud-cells used in carrying out the invention. Fig. 3 is a detail view illustrating the construction of mud-cells. Fig. 4 is an end view of one of my improved dikes.

I will first describe the construction of one of the mud-cells.

I make a raft of logs 5, which form a foundation, and these are arranged to form a rectangular cell by placing a series of logs parallel to each other and then placing another series on top of the first, but at right angles thereto, and then a third series above the second series, and the logs 5 at points where they intersect each other are connected by means of pins 6, which are driven through the intersecting logs, as shown in Fig. 3, or I may bind the logs together by means of wires 7 or any other common fastenings. The spaces between the layers of logs should be filled or calked with hay, straw, or any suitable fibrous material 8 in order to make what I call a mud tight bottom. On the foundation thus constructed I build a series of brush, poles, or scrap-lumber, as indicated by the numeral 9, and this material should be left sufficiently far apart to let enough water pass through to cause a deposit of mud within the cells. Numerous layers of brush 9 may be used, depending upon the height or thickness of the mud-cells.

In Fig. 2 are shown four layers of brush, and in this figure the cell is shown anchored upon the bottom of a stream by means of poles 10, driven through anchor-spaces 11 purpolsely left for them at the corner of the mudce 1.

In Fig. 1 is shown a finished mud-cell, wherein the uppermost layer of brush 9 is sccurely bound by cross bars or poles 12. The cross bars or poles are anchored or wired to the poles beneath them.

I have described the construction of but a single mud-cell; but it is obvious from this description any number of mud-cells may be constructed and used in making a dike of any desired length.

The manner of placing the mud-cells in or der to make a dike will now be described.

The mud-cell is shown in Fig. 1 with a rope or cable 13 attached to one of its corners and reaching to the bank of the river. IVhere said rope or cable is secured to a tree or stop 14, the mud-cell is allowed to gradually drift with the current in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 until it strikes against what Icall an inclined stop 15, which layer is composed of logs or poles arranged in wedge form with its pointed end upstream and the said stop being anchored upon the river-bed by means of suitable poles or piles l6, driven at the corners of the stop into the bed of the river. The said stops 15 have what I term an inclined ridge-pole 17, the lower end of which is tied to the sides of the stop by means of wire or other fastening devices. The upper end of said inclined ridge-pole is also tied to the solid upright poles of the stop. After the mud-cell strikes the stop it is allowed to settle down at the base thereof and is secured in position by means of stakes or poles 10 in the manner previously described.

The mud-cells can be built in large numbers in time of low water in willow-patches, but without any filling to make them mud-tight, and the cell in its unfinished form can be left in a brush or floating in water any desired length of time and they will not sink. They will sink only when they are provided with a mud-tight filling in the manner previously described.

I prefer to build stops 15 of green sycamore or some other hardwood that would sink of itself.

My improved device may be built in water from ten to twenty-five feet deep or in even deeper water. It can also be built on dry sand-bars in time of low water and practically loaded with sand.

By the use of my improved device I can readily change the course of a river or remove sand-bars in running streams.

The primary raft of logs above described may be as long as desired, the longitudinal logs of adjoining sections being overlapped and tied together.

What I claim is- 1. The improvement in the art of constructing dikes, which consists in fixing a stop in the bed of a stream; floating a mud-cell in the stream at a point above said stop; floating said mud-cell into position above said stop; and finally sinking the cell and bringing the same into contact With said stop; substantially as specified.

2. The improvement in the art of constructing dikes, consisting in placing stops upon DAVID NEALE.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. HIGDON, ROY M. EILERS. 

